The first three DA42-VI machines replace older type training aircraft, and an additional delivery of this state-of-the-art, twin-engine training aircraft planned for the summer will increase the capacities to accommodate 100 flight students trained annually at the Swiss location in Grenchen.

Key Handover and Overflight
On 5 February, the three new training aircraft with the logos of SWISS, Edelweiss, and the Swiss Air Force on the tail fin were transferred from Diamond Aircraft, a specialized aircraft factory in Wiener Neustadt (Austria), to Switzerland. A small handover ceremony took place in the hangar of the aircraft factory, where Diamond Aircraft officially handed over the keys of the three planes to the new owners.

During a layover in Zurich, the new training planes were welcomed by a delegation of representatives from SWISS, Edelweiss, LAT Switzerland, the Swiss Air Force, and the media. During a joint photo session in front of two passenger planes from SWISS and Edelweiss (somewhat the big brothers of the training machines), the attendees emphasized the importance of this collaboration among various partners in the training sector. SWISS Head of Operations, Oliver Buchhofer, said, "We are pleased that we can train our future pilots on these state-of-the-art and efficient aircraft. Increasing the capacity to four twin-engine planes in Grenchen helps us in our goal to recruit and train around 80 new pilots for SWISS annually."

Investment in Future Pilots
Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH (LAT) is one of the leading companies in flight training with expertise in training and further education of cockpit and cabin personnel at ten training locations. LAT brings together the flight schools of the Lufthansa Group under the European Flight Academy (EFA) brand. The theoretical part of flight training takes place, among others, at LAT Switzerland in Zurich-Opfikon, and the Swiss location for practical training is in Grenchen, Solothurn.

The procurement of new training aircraft is not just another investment in an efficient fleet of aircraft and modern training equipment for the Lufthansa Group but also in the next generation of SWISS and Edelweiss pilots. The European Flight Academy provides applicants with high-quality basic and advanced flight training with SWISS and Edelweiss instructors and a training fleet at the forefront of technology.

The DA42-VI from Diamond Aircraft, a leading provider of piston aircraft, is popular among many flight schools worldwide. It consumes up to 50 percent less fuel than conventional AvGas-powered planes and is exceptionally quiet. Flight students train for about 30 hours on this type of aircraft during their training.

About Training at the European Flight Academy
The two-year training for new SWISS, Edelweiss, and other Lufthansa Group airline pilots takes place at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland in Opfikon (theory), Grenchen in Solothurn, and Arizona in the United States (practice). Applicants should have completed at least a three-year vocational training or have an exemption for admission to a university of applied sciences or a university. SWISS and Edelweiss pilot students benefit from financial support. Now is the ideal time for young talents to apply for a job in the cockpit. Further information and the opportunity for direct application can be found on european-flight-academy.com.